Chapter 34

After work the next day, I spent my time making up for abandoning Monroe. Nick called, but I ignored him. Part of me wanted to answer, since I really enjoyed working on the transcription of all those books, but if he was going to be standoffish every time I asked him a question outside the Wesen world, then it was best if I just kept ignoring him for a while. Maybe I was cutting off my own nose to spite my face, but that was fine, too.

Monroe was doing much better, and his leg had healed well, but the scar was a reminder of what might have happened if that stupid Blutbad had continued. I didn't need to be spending my time with Nick when I needed to cherish my time with Monroe. If I'd learned one thing this year, it was that time was precious, and we never knew how much of it we had.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

On Friday, instead of a full day at the office, I worked from home the later part of the afternoon, so I could be available for a delivery. There was a knock at my door, and I glanced at my cuckoo. Good, they were right on schedule.

I opened the door to the smiling face of the delivery man. "Davenport?" he asked.

"Yes." I nodded.

"I'm Stan from Exercise Equipment in Beaverton. I've got your Pilates reformers on my truck."

It was a little pricey, but if Monroe was going to stay at my house I didn't want to hinder his regimen. Besides, this gift was to make up for the last few days at Nick's. Hopefully he would appreciate the gesture.

The delivery guy was quick to setup both reformer machines in my spare room downstairs. I was going to turn this room into a study, but it was large enough to double as an exercise area. Having two machines meant I was setting myself up for early mornings, but I could be flexible and work out with Monroe. I wanted our relationship to work, and I was willing to adapt to his lifestyle to ensure it would.

"So, you need any instruction on these?" the delivery guy asked with a grin. "Our company trains us for demos if you need me to show you a few moves."

"Oh, no," I told the delivery guy while waving my hands out. "I have a working knowledge."

"Well, here's my card if you change your mind." He flashed me another grin. "I do private demos, too." Was flirtation another part of this company's amenities, too?

"Thank you for your help." I led Mr. Delivery Flirt back to my front door. I tipped him well. Hopefully he wouldn't think that meant I was interested.

Once he was gone, I went back to view my purchases. These were different from Monroe's, but they were similar enough. Oh, let's hope I'd picked out the kind he'd be able to use. Too bad I didn't have a bow. It needed a bow. Oh, perhaps I did!

I went upstairs and searched for my box of gift wrap. There ought to be one in here leftover from Christmas or a birthday. Sure enough, there was a large, red bow with tails in good condition inside the box. Red, the perfect color. I grinned to myself as I took it downstairs and placed it on one of the machines. I had to call him.

"Hey," said Monroe. "They have you taking a late lunch today?"

"No. I'm at home actually."

"Why are you at home at this time of day?" he asked suspiciously.

"Come over," I said while trying to contain my excitement.

"Everything okay?" The worry etched in his voice.

"Everything is fine." I was brimming with excitement now. "It's a good thing. Come over, you'll see."

"You wanna give me a hint?" His curiosity coated his words.

"No hints… Surprises!"

Monroe chuckled. "Okay, then. I'll be over in a few."

I literally danced around the living room as I tidied up before Monroe arrived.

My cell rang again, and I picked it up. "Surprises," I grinned into the phone.

"Renée?" asked a female voice.

I froze for a moment. "Oh, so sorry. Yes. Who's this?"

"It's Sandra… Sandra Bilka."

"Yes, hi! How are you?"

"Are you at home?"

"I am actually. Why do you ask?"

"I have your painting. I thought I'd just bring it over personally."

I sat down on the couch. "You don't have to do that, Sandra. I could just pick it up at the gallery."

Lydia had called last week to let me know Sandra's painting was ready to be picked up, but I was busy nursing Monroe back to health. She'd told me she'd hold on to it until I was available to get it. Honestly, with everything that had gone on recently, it was the last thing on my mind.

"No, it's fine," said Sandra. "My pleasure, really. I'm actually out close to your house. Lydia gave me your address."

"Well, come on by. If you're coming from Northwest 23rd Street, turn left at the Starbucks and I'm the yellow house on the left."

"Oh, yeah. I know where that is. I'll be there in a jiffy."

Sandra seemed as cheery as ever. After revealing myself, I was worried she and I might not have the same relationship as we had before. But I couldn't lose my boutique girl. Her dresses were amazing.

It wasn't too long after our phone call that there was a knock on my door. Sandra was on the other side, lugging the painting wrapped in brown paper. It seemed I was getting two deliveries today.

"Hey, that was fast," I said as I motioned her inside.

She hesitated at first, but then entered into the living room. "Wow, this place is swell," she commented as her eyes trailed around.

"Here let me sit that somewhere," I said, taking the painting. "You want something to drink?"

"Sure. Water would be nice."

"Have a seat," I motioned to the couch. "Let me grab a bottle from the fridge."

I went to the kitchen, taking two bottles of Dasani from my fridge door. I stood there for a moment, preparing my thoughts. Would Sandra bring up the Grimm thing? If so, how much was she going to ask, and how much was I willing to tell? We'd just have to play it by ear. When I returned to the living room, Sandra was huddled near the edge of the couch and looking around like she was in awe.

I handed her a bottle. "Thanks again for bringing this over. That was so sweet of you."

"Well, thanks for purchasing it." She opened her water and took a tentative sip. "You really like it?"

I sat down on the other side of the couch. "I do. I've been looking for a piece big enough to go over my fireplace, and I think this one is going to fit well."

"The colors are going to look fantastic with the colors you already have in here."

"That's what I thought, too. The red in the autumn leaves ought to pick up the red bricks in the fireplace."

"Oh, definitely!" Sandra had relaxed a bit, taking a larger sip of water and more room on the couch. "You have a good eye for color."

"I just know what's pleasing to the eye. At least my eyes." I chuckled.

"I love that one you have up." She pointed to my Gray Guitar painting. "The integration of Picasso with the modern dynamic is striking."

I nodded and reached for Sandra's painting where I'd propped it up by the arm of the couch. Gently, I removed the paper covering, getting a good view of the painting under my own lights. It was definitely a work of art.

"So, umm, I really don't want to be rude, but are you really a Grimm?"

"Yep," I casually replied, still eyeing the piece.

"I've never met one before, but the Eisbiber community has been talking incessantly about there being one in here in Portland. But they said it was a guy."

I turned to face her. "Oh? A guy?" While I was anticipating the Grimm talk, I hadn't planned on talking about Nick. Crap.

She tightened her grip on her water bottle. "Do you have a brother?"

"No, I'm an only child."

"Weird, 'cause from what I've heard, an Eisbiber wound up at this Grimm's house and barely got out alive." She gulped hard after saying that and had a quick woge.

I took a drink of my water. "An Eisbiber was in a Grimm's house?" I feigned surprise. It wasn't my place to say anything about Nick. He hadn't mentioned it, so I wasn't lying.

"Yeah, I first heard it from a lady who was in the shop in December. Said the guy had been telling anyone who would listen." I'd have to ask Nick about this Eisbiber thing. Now I was curious. "Makes me wonder how many Grimms are out there, since you're here, too."

"I don't know honestly." Maybe there was another one here. The thought hadn't occurred to me until Sandra mentioned it. Anything was possible.

"Before I heard about that one, I thought you guys were just myths. We all hear the stories about the Grimms that chop off our heads in the night, but to see one in real life, that's just something altogether different."

"Well, I can promise I'm not in the… head chopping business." I smiled to keep that statement as light as one could. It didn't help. It sounded awkward anyway.

"I figured if you're dating a Wesen then you couldn't be too much like the stories I've heard growing up. Besides, you seem way too nice to be a killer."

"Thanks," I replied. What was I supposed to say to something like that?

"So, your boyfriend knows about you then, right?"

I nodded. "Monroe is Wieder, and yeah, he knows everything."

She shook her head as she took it all in. "Wow, it's just so unorthodox that a Grimm and a Wesen… Wow."

"Well, I've had the ability to see all my life. Some of my closest friends are Wesen."

Her eyes lit up. "Really?"

I nodded. "But I don't share this with just everybody, especially since I moved here. So please promise you won't let anyone know, okay?"

Her back straightened. "Oh, I wouldn't dare."

"Thanks, Sandra. I'm glad I could be open with you on this."

Sandra and I worked to hang my new painting above my fireplace. Sure enough, it was the perfect fit and it looked even better here than in the gallery.

Sandra squealed as we both admired it. "The colors are just wonderful. Oh, Renée, it's perfect in here!"

"It really is," I agreed with a big smile. My cell rang and I turned toward my coffee table to answer it.

"Hey, Honey," said Monroe. "I'm almost to your house."

"Okay. I have company here, but still come on by."

"Natalie?" he asked.

"No. Sandra, the artist of the painting I bought at the art gala. She brought it over, and we just hung it up."

"Oh, the Nussesser?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you think it's okay if I come by? I mean, I can hold off until she's gone."

"No, it's fine. Come on over."

"Well, okay then. See you soon."

I laid the phone back down. "Sorry about that. It was the boyfriend calling. He's headed over here."

"The Blutbad?"

"Yeah, but you can call him Monroe." I smiled. Part of me wanted to go into my equality stand point, but it was too soon for things like that. I'd never understood why Wesen did that, but I suppose humans were no different. We had no problem saying, 'the black guy,' or 'the Asian.' Wesen just had better names.

"Right, sorry." She pursed her lips. "I should probably go. I kinda closed the shop so I could drop this by."

"Oh. I was hoping you could stay for a bit since you're here."

"Some other time, absolutely." She beamed at me. "I'm so happy you liked my art, I really am!"

I moved forward, and she flinched slightly as I hugged her. I walked her to my door.

She turned before leaving. "Thanks for trusting me."

"Thanks for trusting me, too."

Sandra went down the steps and toward her car as I closed the door. I went back to the fireplace and looked at my painting again. I missed Cherokee Park.

Five minutes later Monroe arrived. "So, she didn't want to stick around, huh?" he said as he walked inside. He sniffed the air. "Wow, she must've left in a hurry."

"You can tell that from her scent?"

"Umm, no. It just didn't take me that long to get here." Monroe chuckled. "My nose isn't that good."

"Ah, that makes sense."

He walked over to my new piece. "So, this is where you decided to put it, huh? Kinda the focal point for the room now."

I rested my hand on his arm. "Yeah, I really like it."

Monroe shrugged. "I mean, there are worse paintings you could've picked out, I suppose. This one at least matches the room."

I shook my head at him. "It's a beautiful piece, and I'm really happy with my purchase."

"If you're happy, then I'm happy for you, man," he replied with a smirk. "So, what did you want to show me?"

"Oh!" With Sandra stopping by with the painting, I'd almost forgotten. "Now you'll have to close your eyes, because it's a surprise."

He chuckled, but did as I asked. I took his hand as we walked slowly down the hall.

"Is this some sort of trap?" Amusement encircled his voice.

"Aww, who told you?" I teased. I led him into the newly dubbed exercise room. "Okay, open your eyes."

Monroe slowly opened them and they widened at the sight. "Whoa!" he exclaimed and hurried himself over to the new machines. "These are so... awesome!" He was already moving parts around, making little noises as he went.

I loved those noises, loved...

He peeled off the bow as he looked my way. "A red bow?" he grinned.

"It's your favorite color, right?"

"You know it is." A flicker of red danced across his eyes. He went back to the machines. "Balanced Body is, like, top of the line reformers, man. These are much better than what I have at home."

"Now you'll have no excuse but to stick to your schedule while you're staying over here."

Monroe raced back toward me, picked me up, and spun me around the room. "So, how did I luck into someone so… amazing?" He kissed me before I had time to reply.

Once he let my lips go, I finally said "The universe likes us, I guess." I smiled at him as he set my feet back on the ground. "I'm pretty lucky, too," I added.

He grinned while glancing back at both machines. "So, you know, since there's kinda two..."

"Yeah, I'm going to try to do this with you." I grinned back up at him. "But don't hold me to it, because the crack of dawn and I aren't the best of friends."

"Hey, if you try it, you might just enjoy it, man."

"Lovely sentiment there, but I don't know if I can," I said. "But, I'm willing to try... for your sake," I added.

Monroe wanted to show me a few moves on the Pilates machines and some of the perks of this brand. He was so involved in talking nonstop about maneuvers and positions that he barely took in a breath.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

After Pilates 101 and a long intimate shower, we shared our Friday night being lazy homebodies. It was uneventful and wonderfully normal. With the conversation I'd had during my visit with Sandra earlier today, I needed normal.

"You and I are going out tomorrow," said Monroe as we cuddled on the couch.

"And what plans do you have for us tomorrow?"

Monroe glanced up at my fireplace. "It's time for some art in a better form," he replied with a smirk.

I looked over at him. "The art museum?"

Monroe nodded. "There's an exhibit there I've been itching to see, and I want to share it with you."

"Okay." I beamed as I leaned my head against him. "Sounds like a date." The normalcy was going to continue, and I adored every moment.

A/N: An Eisbiber who barely got alive of a Grimm's home? Gee, wonder who that might be? (;

I think I'm going to be sad when they actually have Squirrels and Rabbits on the show and they're gonna have completely different Wesen names. Ah well...

I'll have more chapters in a few days.
Stay tuned for more...